Queensryche playing with Armored Saint was a great tour
combination. Both fans have strong vocalists. If you are a person who
appreciates vocals, as in vocalist who actually have talent, then you could
appreciate this lineup.
Both vocalists have an amazing range. They both have a
talent that is not found very often, so pairing these two with each other, is like adding hot
fudge, melted peanut butter, whipped
cream and cherry on top of an ice cream treat, that winning combination in
perfect synche: Hot and cold, liquid melting the solid, sweet and salty peanut
butter cup melting on frozen goodness. Devour the music.
It’s one of those
shows where it’s not just about the vocalist. Both bands have amazing musicians
all the way around supporting a wonderful thing. It’s a night of skilled
musician, not people that are just learning how to play, but people better get
one with your instruments to the point where it’s almost like second nature.
It’s the coming
together of these individual parts that made for an awe inspiring whole. Both
bands have proven their longevity in the music industry, both having hits. It’s
hard to pick a favorite of which one put on the better show…
Armored Saint recently released Carpe Noctum, and they have teamed up with PledgeMusic, www.pledgemusic.com/armoredsaint,
to offer fans a new live album. They
have been around since the early 80’s, but some fans might remember the lead
singer John Bush from the early 90’s when he subbed in as lead singer for
Anthrax, being featured on the highly acclaimed album Sound of White Noise, which had radio hits like “Black Lodge” and “Hi
Pro Glo.”
I would have been turning 13 in 1993 when that album was
released, and I’m not going to lie, John Bush definitely made me more of an
Anthrax fan. His vocals were a little
more melodic that some of the previous scratchy screams found in other metal
bands at the time, so the lyrics could actually be understood, and not only
that, the lyrics actually had meaning.
As a writer, I was impressed by the messages in the songs, such as “Potter’s
Field,” which is a throwback to a field of unmarked graves: some say this is a
conversation from a man who should have been aborted, and some say the guy grew
up to be a killer, but other say the song is about Judah.
Black Lodge is another concept that can be found in the show
Twin Peaks, so regardless of what you actually take from the lyrics, I don’t
think anyone can argue that they were well thought out. There is actually meaning behind the writing,
and as a writer, that is something I have always highly prized, even before I
became a professional. Yes, John Bush’s
lyrics and vocal range were influential in my life as a teenager, but I was too
young to catch them during they heyday; I have seen Anthrax, but not with John
Bush, and now I’ve seen John Bush, but not with Anthrax – better than nothing,
so I can’t complain.
Armored Saint is Bush’s original band, which he founded with
friends back in the day. It is rumored
that when Metallica first formed, James Hetfield was unsure of his ability to
be a vocalist, and he had asked Bush if he was interested in singing for
Metallica. Supposedly, Bush turned it
down to stay with the band that he had formed, Armored Saint, so there’s more
than a few people out there that agree that Bush has more than a little talent
in that department.
Bush is not the only person in the band with talent, as
lyrics are not the sole reason that a band has staying power for a few
decades. The rest of the band can
control a crowd through their music, and if you’ve never seen them, do yourself
a favor and watch them live. You will
not be disappointed.
Queensryche headlined the show, a band that has had so many
hits throughout the years that you nearly forget how many hits they’ve had
until you see them live and realize you know every song they played. They hits keep coming, too, as they continue
to produce new music. Frontman Todd La
Torre talked about their video for “Hellfire,” which is about the Malaysian
passenger flight crisis in 2014:
“'Hellfire' is a depiction primarily based on the
tragic events surrounding the Malaysian airline flight MH17. Despite the
storyline's foundation, the lyrical and visual narrative transcends into other
pertinent, global subject matters. Civil unrest, guerrilla warfare, media
propaganda, and social inequalities are just some examples of the multifaceted
issues marbled throughout 'Hellfire'. A poignant illustration of an unfortunate
yet timeless reality.”
Another
recent video release was for “Bulletproof,” which La Torre also explained. "Bulletproof is a journey through a
relationship gone bad, however painful the relationship is you still find a way
to persevere. We elected to present the song in a live setting as a sharp
contrast to the videos we've done for the "Condition Human" album to
help bring this chapter to a close and start the next journey."
Again,
this is coming from a vocalist that actually has talent, a phenomenal range as
a vocalist, but the songs actually have meaning and are not simple-minded
chants, like songs that are all too often heard on the radio nowadays. The lyrics are backed by a powerhouse of
musicians that create an unearthly musical effect that can transport listeners
to whatever time, place and ambiance the band so chooses. More musicians should take note of these
bands.
http://www.armoredsaint.com
http://www.facebook.com/thearmoredsaint
http://www.metalblade.com/armoredsaint
http://www.facebook.com/thearmoredsaint
http://www.metalblade.com/armoredsaint
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